Globally Threatened Amphibian Species Part 1

170
Threatened Amphibians of the World
CR Atelopus minutulus Ruíz-Carranza, Hernandez-Camacho and Ardila-Robayo, 1988
Critically Endangered A3ce
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Maria Cristina Ardila
Geographic Range This species lives on the eastern slope of the eastern Andes, Meta Department, Villavicencio,
Acacias, Vareda Portachuelo, via Manzanares, Colombia, at 1,370-1,560m asl.
Population This species was abundant in the early 1980s, but was last seen in 1985 (despite subsequent surveys
in 1987). No one has returned to look for this species since.
Habitat and Ecology It is an inhabitant of cloud forest, with breeding and larval development taking place in streams.
It tolerates natural disturbances such as landslides, but not significant opening up of its habitat.
Major Threats It occurs in a very restricted area that is severely threatened by habitat destruction, particularly due to
cattle ranching. However, the most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis, which has had a devastating impact
on other high-altitude Atelopus species.
Conservation Measures This species is not known to occur in any protected areas. Surveys are urgently needed
to determine the population status of the species. In view of the severe risk of chytridiomycosis, ex-situ populations
might need to be established.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), Cocroft, R.B. et al. (1990), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al.
(2006), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Hernández-Camacho, J.A. and Ardila-
Robayo, M.C. (1988)
Data Providers: Jose Vicente Rueda, María Cristina Ardila-Robayo, Andrés Acosta-Galvis, Mariela Osorno-Muñoz, Ruth Adriana
Maldonado-Silva
CR Atelopus monohernandezi Ardila-Robayo, Osorno-Muñoz and Ruíz-Carranza, 2001
Critically Endangered A2e
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Geographic Range This species is found in Santuario de Fauna y
Flora Guanentá Alto Río Fonce, Río Cañaverales, Santander Department,
Colombia, at 1,700-2,000m asl.
Population During the course of multiple visits undertaken in
1979-1982, this species was found to be common. There have been
no subsequent surveys for the species, with the exception of one
survey in 1992 when this species was not recorded, suggesting a
serious decrease.
Habitat and Ecology It is an inhabitant of cloud forest, with
breeding and larval development taking place in streams. It tolerates
disturbed forest.
Major Threats The most serious risk to this species is chytridiomycosis,
which has had a devastating impact on other high-altitude
species of Atelopus.
Conservation Measures It occurs in the Santuario de Fauna y Flora
Guanentá Alto Río Fonce. Further survey work is required to determine
the biology and population status of this species. Given the threat of chytridiomycosis, successful conservation
measures will probably need to include the maintenance of any surviving individuals in captivity.
Bibliography: Ardila-Robayo, M.C., Osorno-Muñoz, M. and Ruiz-Carranza, P.M. (2002), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Pounds, J.A. et al.
(2006)
Data Providers: María Cristina Ardila-Robayo, Mariela Osorno-Muñoz
CR Atelopus mucubajiensis Rivero, 1972
Critically Endangered A2ace; B2ab(v)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Venezuela
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Enrique La Marca
Geographic Range This species has a very restricted distribution of only a few square kilometres at the type
locality, in the Páramo de Mucubají, in the Sierra de Santo Domingo, in the Venezuelan Andes. It has an altitudinal
range of 2,300-3,500m asl.
Population It is a very rare species. This is the only Venezuelan Andean amphibian for which an ongoing population
monitoring programme exists. The population seems to have experienced a drastic decline in the last 15 years or so,
to the point that no individuals of this species were recorded since 1993 (adults) or 1994 (larvae), until recent surveys
confi rmed that a few individuals (23 in total) continue to survive in the wild (Barrio-Amorós 2004).
Habitat and Ecology This species is an inhabitant of páramo and cloud forest, the highest environments in the
Venezuelan Andes, resembling alpine tundra, but with daily temperature extremes. It is usually found within grasses
and frailejones (Espeletia spp.), and along streams. It probably lives in the shrubs of the sub-páramo environment. It
is photophilic and lays egg chains in streams, where the tadpoles also develop.
Major Threats The major threat is likely to be chytridiomycosis, which has resulted in catastrophic declines of
many other species of Atelopus. Chytridiomycosis was confi rmed in this species in 1988. Introduced trout, introduced
conifers, fires caused by humans, over collection, and agriculture and infrastructure development for human settlement
are all major threats. With higher insolation as a result of climate change, this species could be at increased
risk due to its habit of basking in the sun.
Conservation Measures Most of the range of this species is within the Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada. A new
monitoring project for this species has recently begun (www.andigena.org). In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis,
an ex-situ population might need to be established.
Bibliography: Barrio Amorós, C.L. (2004), Barrio-Amorós, C.L. (2004), La Marca, E. (1995b), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), La Marca, E. and
Lötters, S. (1997), La Marca, E. and Reinthaler, H.P. (1991), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Rivero, J.A. (1972), Rodríguez,
J.P. and Rojas-Suárez, F. (1995)
Data Providers: Enrique La Marca, Suleima Santiago, Stefan Lötters, Juan Elías García-Pérez, César Luis Barrio Amorós
CR Atelopus muisca Rueda-Almonacid and Hoyos, 1992 “1991”
Critically Endangered A2ace; B2ab(v)
Order, Family: Anura, Bufonidae
Country Distribution: Colombia
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
© Juan Manuel Renjifo
Geographic Range This species occurs in Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza, Colombia, between 2,900 and
3,350m asl.
Population This species was common up until 1996, but four expeditions in 1998 and 2003 failed to turn up a single
individual at any of the previous known localities.
Habitat and Ecology It occurs in Andean cloud forests and páramos. Breeding and larval development take place
in streams.
Major Threats The major threat is likely to be chytridiomycosis, which has resulted in catastrophic declines of many
other species of Atelopus. Cattle grazing is also a threat to the habitat of this species, and introduced trout have a
negative impact on reproductive success.
Conservation Measures This species occurs in the Parque Nacional Natural Chingaza. Further survey work is
required to determine whether or not this species still persists in the wild. In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis,
any surviving individuals might need to form the basis for the establishment of an ex-situ population.
Bibliography: Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2000), La Marca, E. et al. (2005), Lötters, S. (1996), Pounds, J.A. et al. (2006), Rueda-Almonacid, J.V.
and Hoyos, J.M. (1991), Ruiz-Carranza, P.M., Ardila-Robayo, M.C. and Lynch, J.D. (1996)
Data Providers: Jose Vicente Rueda, Wilmar Bolívar, Adolfo Amézquita, Andrés Acosta-Galvis